Prodigal:  I have been spending some times with some other Christians and I am confused.

 

Me:  What are you confused about Prodigal?

 

Prodigal:  They all have a story of salvation but some tend to dedicate their lives to God and others are focused on themselves.

 

Me:  Yeah, I have noticed that also myself.  Let me have someone who is smarter than me explain this for you.  Bruce Wilkinson in his book Set Apart Discovering Personal Victory Through Holiness.

 

God is very clear–salvation does not exist except through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  What must you do in addition to genuinely believing in Christ?  Must you consecrate yourself to Him in any way in order to be saved?  No.  The Bible is clear:  “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31)

Belief in a person and devotion to that person are different things.  I can believe in a person without devotion my life to him.  Although I have heard and read many arguments in favor of adding things to “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved,”  the Bible teaches that nothing will save anyone except genuine faith in Christ.  Adding any other condition is unbiblical.

Consecration occurs when a Christian decides of his own free will to dedicate himself to Christ in a deep and meaningful way; but consecration is not required in order to experience salvation.  In fact, because Romans 12:1  was written to Christian who had been saved any where from days to more than twenty years, clearly an extensive period of time may pass between the decision to trust Christ as Savior and the later decision to devote oneself totally to God.  Or it may never occur!  Paul does not warn that believers will lose their salvation if they never dedicate their lives to the Lord.

 

I was saved in middle school.  I did not start dedicating my life to the Lord in a meaningful way until I was in my late 20’s.  Since I have dedicated my life to the Lord.  God has showed up in many different ways and my life is so far from boring.  It also is not easy at times.  The joy and peace that I have though are worth the struggles and the people I have met along the way are VERY much worth following God.  To those who God has put in my path.  I do not thank you enough for your support and I do appreciate everyone of you!  May this day be a day that you know that you have made a difference in at least one person’s life and that one is mine!

 

Exodus 19:5-6

“Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.  And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”

 

Jennifer Van Allen

www.faithincounseling.org

www.theprodigalpig.com